Selakovic: Session of Serbia-Azerbaijan commission very successful

BELGRADE - Serbian Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Thursday overall Serbia-Azerbaijan relations were characterised by close cooperation, friendly relations, a strategic partnership and the fact there were no outstanding issues between the two sides.

Selakovic was speaking at a press conference in Belgrade after a Serbia-Azerbaijan bilateral commission on trade and economic cooperation held its ninth session.

"This session of the Commission was very successful. I would especially like to note the fact that 18 different government bodies and organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan were represented here as part of a delegation that had more than 30 members," he said.

He said the commission had addressed various ways, and areas, of cooperation with Azerbaijan.

The energy sector is crucial for us, and Azerbaijan is a very significant source of Serbia's energy supplies," the minister said.

He said various projects planned in the energy sector had been discussed at the session.

"I would like to point out that, together with the Azerbaijani company Azvirt, we have already implemented strategically important infrastructure projects in Serbia, such as the Milos The Great motorway (the Preljina-Pozega section), as well as the Ruma-Sabac-Loznica project. A part of that project, from Slijepcevici to Badovinci, is currently under construction," Selakovic said.

He also said the infrastructure projects included a Belgrade bypass road.

Selakovic noted that trade between the two countries was 16 times higher in 2024 compared to 2012.

"In 2012, it amounted to 32.4 mln dolars, reaching 512.5 mln dollars in 2024," he said.

"We can say, and conclude, that our political relations, at presidential level - between President (Aleksandar) Vucic and President Ilham Aliyev - as well as between our ministers, FMs and co-chairs of this intergovernmental commission, as well as other ministers, are on a very high level," Selakovic said.

He said there was space, as well as an obligation, to raise the level of economic cooperation and cooperation in other areas to that of bilateral political relations.

Selakovic reiterated firm gratitude to Azerbaijan for its consistent and unwavering support for Serbia on the key national issue - respect for its territorial integrity and sovereignty regarding the Kosovo-Metohija issue.

"I would like to stress that Serbia has always consistently respected the fundamental principles of international public law, especially as regards respect for the territorial integrity of the friendly and brotherly state of Azerbaijan," Selakovic said.

Azerbaijani Finance Minister Sahil Babayev said Serbia and Azerbaijan were strategic partners and that their partnership was based on mutual respect, friendship and respect for the two countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and mutual support on that issue.

He said the partnership was a vision of the two presidents and that, year by year, new dimensions were added to it, with joint activities expanded.

Speaking about investment cooperation, Babayev also said Azerbaijan's state oil fund SOFAZ already had a 72 mln dollar investment portfolio in Serbia.

He said the objective was to create conditions to improve the business environment and boost relations.

A Serbia-Azerbaijan business forum was also held on Thursday.